Golden Bears, Chiefs to battle for BL title By Rick Wilson Republican-American

One game, winner take all. The Berkshire League girls championships will be decided in Thomaston when the Golden Bears take on Nonnewaug. The game was originally scheduled for tonight, but was postponed due to the snow storm. It will most likely be played Tuesday.

Thomaston brings a 14-2 BL mark into the contest (16-2 overall) while the Chiefs are 15-2 in the BL (16-3) overall. Actually, there is a scenario that could develop resulting in tri-champions.

If Thomaston wins and then loses its final game against Housatonic, Lewis Mills, Nonnewaug and the Bears will end up as tri-champions. If Nonnewaug wins, the Chiefs own the title all by themselves since they have no games left.

Thomaston rallied in the second half behind Maggie Eberhardt (22 points) to defeat the Chiefs the first time around, 46-41. But there is little to separate the two teams.

Nonnewaug coach Adam Brutting sees the boards and balance as two keys.

"Whoever rebounds the basketball is going to have an advantage," said Brutting. "And whichever team distributes the ball well is important. Both teams rely on big players so if we can distribute the basketball and get everybody involved it will make a difference."

Nonnewaug offers up senior guard Katie Burke who makes going to the basket her mission. Thomaston has arguably the league's top player in senior Maggie Eberhardt and junior Abby Hurlbert, two of the top scorers the league.

"We have to do the obvious and keep Miss Burke in check and somehow beat them off of the glass," said Thomaston coach Bob McMahon. "We have to do the job from A to Z.'

A little sidelight to the game is Brutting. He has won more games in the Thomaston gym than most of the Thomaston players.

As a Thomaston High graduate, Brutting was a key member of the Golden Bears 1990 and 1991 Class S state championship teams.

The two teams went 50-2 and were 26-0 in the 1990-91 season. He has not lost in the THS gym since he was a sophomore.

"It's a great feeling (coming home)," said Brutting who lives in Thomaston. "When the schedule first came out and I saw this was the last game of the season I smiled. I said to Bob how cool it was to have this game to mean something. I don't think it could be written any better."

The NVL girls tournament will begin Saturday at Holy Cross with games scheduled for noon, 1:45, 3:30 and 5:15 p.m. The semifinals will move to Kennedy Feb. 18 at 5 and 7 p.m. The championship game will be at Kennedy Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

The top eight teams qualify for the tournament and at this point would include Watertown, Torrington, Ansonia, Holy Cross, Kennedy, St. Paul, Woodland and Crosby.

Several area teams are still harboring state tournament hopes. In the NVL, Sacred Heart (7-11) needs one win in its final two games to earn a spot in the postseason.

Meanwhile in the Berkshire League, Litchfield (7-10) needs one win its final three games while Wamogo (6-11) needs two wins in its final three games.

Former Wolcott coach Rick LeFerriere didn't stay idle long. After resigning as the Eagles coach a year ago LaFerriere received a call from Crosby Athletic Director Dave Ieronimo to ask if he would be interested coaching the Bulldogs' freshman team.

It has been good move for both. Laferriere coached three different sports over a 26-year span at Wolcott.

"It has been a lot fun," said LeFerriere. "This is a great bunch of kids."

Lewis Mills has been without the services of top notch senior guard Hope Shevchuck since the Thomaston game Feb. 1. Shevchuck injured her leg in the third quarter of the Spartans loss to the Bears and the extent of her injury isn't known at this point.

Mills Athletic Director Dave Tanner said they had hoped to hear something Friday but did not because of school cancellation.

Reader Comments

The following are comments from online readers like you. In no way do they represent the view of The Republican-American.

Submit a Comment

We encourage your feedback and dialog. Please be civil and respectful. Registered users comments will be posted automatically. All other comments will be reviewed by our staff before appearing on the Web site. If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican.